Temple likely to be in Big East's West Division
By Keith Pompey
Inquirer Staff Writer

It is likely that Temple will play in the Western Division once the Big East Conference splits into two divisions for football at the start of the 2013 season.

The Owls could be lumped into the same division with distant rivals Boise State, San Diego State, Houston, Southern Methodist, and Memphis.

The alignment could change in 2015 when Navy joins the conference as a football-only member.

"It could play that way, which is fine," said Temple coach Steve Addazio, whose squad will officially leave the Mid-American Conference for the Big East in July. "We don't really know that. But I've heard those things."

Having to face Boise State and Houston, the Owls will likely be in the tougher division. And for their away games, they would have to travel to faraway Idaho, Texas, and California.

Addazio isn't concerned about the competition or the travel.

"Boise is a good team," Addazio said. "The other teams are the same teams we are.

"You have to get in a plane and travel. So you know, you might have to travel 40 more minutes than you did the other. But you are still going to get on that plane and fly."

The Big East football conference will consist of Temple, Rutgers, Louisville, Syracuse, Cincinnati, Connecticut, South Florida, and Pittsburgh next season.

Pitt and Syracuse will leave for the Atlantic Coast Conference as early as 2013. The Big East then will add Boise State and San Diego State for football only for the 2013 season. At the same time, Memphis, Houston, Southern Methodist, and Central Florida will join as all-sports members.

(04-10-2012 12:35 PM)Ragpicker Wrote: Temple likely to be in Big East's West Division
Having to face Boise State and Houston, the Owls will likely be in the tougher division. And for their away games, they would have to travel to faraway Idaho, Texas, and California.

Seriously? Boise State is a good team and Houston has had some good seasons, but I would argue that the existing Big East members are definitely stronger and I believe every member of the East has been ranked in the top 25 in the last couple years at some point. Only Boise State and Houston can say that in the west I believe.

Honestly I expect Boise State to take a step back as they currently play 2-3 good teams every year at best and a bunch of cannon fodder. Now they will have to face a much tougher league, though the West really is not all that, so it depends on what they do with cross division games.

Hopefully this is true though as I'd much rather be in the East and not have to travel so far for the majority of our road games, plus it is more of the traditional Big East.

Boise State has been a top ten team but Louisville, Cincy, Rutgers, UCF, USF, and UConn are better than Memphis, Boise State, Temple, Houston, SMU, and SDSU when you look at the past five or ten season overall.

The new Big East should be a good conference the question I have which schools will break out of the pack to become the top dogs in the conference. Boise State, Louisville Cincinnati, and Houston based on recent history could be those schools.

I would think it is only temporary. I would like to think the BE is inviting one of the following to balance out the west. BYU AFA FSU or UNLV. Navy in on record saying they want to play in the west. I think the divisions will end up like this

(04-10-2012 08:15 PM)True Bearcat Wrote: Navy in on record saying they want to play in the west. I think the divisions will end up like this

East

UCONN
Rutgers
Temple
UCF
USF
Cincinnati
Louisville

West

Memphis
Navy
SMU
Houston
Boise
SDSU
New team

That's interesting that Navy WANTS to play in the West. Had never heard that before. San Diego and Houston are great road trips for the Navy fan base, of course --- although Boise, Dallas and Memphis don't seem quite as appealing in that manner.

But that's good to know --- until this gets resolved, the "who goes West" thing is a bit of a sword hanging over the conference's long-term future.

(04-10-2012 08:15 PM)True Bearcat Wrote: Navy in on record saying they want to play in the west. I think the divisions will end up like this

East

UCONN
Rutgers
Temple
UCF
USF
Cincinnati
Louisville

West

Memphis
Navy
SMU
Houston
Boise
SDSU
New team

That's interesting that Navy WANTS to play in the West. Had never heard that before. San Diego and Houston are great road trips for the Navy fan base, of course --- although Boise, Dallas and Memphis don't seem quite as appealing in that manner.

But that's good to know --- until this gets resolved, the "who goes West" thing is a bit of a sword hanging over the conference's long-term future.

Navy wants to play in the West because Air Force will probably be the next team in.

(04-10-2012 08:15 PM)True Bearcat Wrote: Navy in on record saying they want to play in the west. I think the divisions will end up like this

East

UCONN
Rutgers
Temple
UCF
USF
Cincinnati
Louisville

West

Memphis
Navy
SMU
Houston
Boise
SDSU
New team

That's interesting that Navy WANTS to play in the West. Had never heard that before. San Diego and Houston are great road trips for the Navy fan base, of course --- although Boise, Dallas and Memphis don't seem quite as appealing in that manner.

But that's good to know --- until this gets resolved, the "who goes West" thing is a bit of a sword hanging over the conference's long-term future.

Navy wants to play in the West because Air Force will probably be the next team in.

Navy and SMU also play yearly for a trophy, so there's that rivalry too.